ubuntu user guide

7/28/2019 Ubuntu User Guide

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Produced by ISCA Vision Ltd - November 2008European Resettlement Training & Education for Prisoners (E-Step)

Project Number: 133925-LLP-1-2007-1-UK-GRUNDTVIG-GMP

This project has been funded with the support of the European Commission. This document reflects the viewsonly of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of theinformation contained therein.


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Ubuntu Linux User Guide

Contents Page No

About this Guide ......................................................................................1Introduction to the Desktop.......................................................................1

Panels..................................................................................................1Applets ................................................................................................1Launchers ............................................................................................1Adding to a Panel ..................................................................................2Add a Panel ..........................................................................................2Panel Properties ....................................................................................3

Windows .................................................................................................4Workspaces.............................................................................................4File Manager............................................................................................5File Browser Window.................................................................................6

Location Bar .........................................................................................6Text Location Bar ..................................................................................6Search Bar ...........................................................................................7Adding.................................................................................................7

Removable Media.....................................................................................8Emblems..............................................................................................8Permissions ..........................................................................................9Changing File Permissions.......................................................................9Changing Permissions for a Folder ......................................................... 10

Applications........................................................................................... 10Tomboy ................................................................................................ 12

To Add a New Note .............................................................................. 12View / Search All Notes ........................................................................ 12Editing / Formatting Text...................................................................... 13Linking............................................................................................... 13

F Spot .................................................................................................. 14Importing Photos................................................................................. 15Tags .................................................................................................. 15Viewing Photos.................................................................................... 16Editing Photos..................................................................................... 17

Shortcut Keys........................................................................................ 20


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This Guide is designed to introduce new users to the Ubuntu operating system &its desktop (Gnome) environment. This training guide is designed to help you

get started quickly, giving you the basic features & navigation techniques.

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The desktop screen is made up of the following components:

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These are the two bars that appear at the top & bottom of the desktop screen.By default, the panel at the top displays the GNOME menu bar, the date & timeas well as application icons.

The bottom panel displays a list of any open windows, the button that allowsyou to switch between workspaces & the trashcan.

These panels can be customised to add other tools, such as other menus,launchers & other small utility applications, called panel applets. For example,

you could set up the panel to display the current weather for your location. Youcan add applets, launchers and/or buttons to a panel.

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An applet is a mini-application which you can add to a panel for easy access.

Some of the default active applets are: Main Menu, Fast User Switcher.Notification Area, Volume Control, Clock, Quit, Show Desktop, Window List,Workspace Switcher & a Trashcan.

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A launcher is an item that allows you to carry out a specific action, such asaccess an application, open a folder etc.


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You can add more items to the panel:RIGHT click on a blank area of a panel Select ADD TO PANEL

Select the required item Click ADD

The new item will now appear on the panel. You can move the item anywhere

on the panel by dragging it. To remove an item:

RIGHT click on the item Choose REMOVEFROMPANEL

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You can add new panels to your desktop at any time, to do this:

RIGHT click on any blank area on any panel Select ADD NEW PANEL


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PPaanneell PPrrooppeerrttiieess

You can use the panel properties window to reposition, resize & changebackground colour.

RIGHT click on the panel you wish to modify Select PROPERTIES

The GENERAL tab allows you to:

Select the position (orientation) for the panel Modify the SIZE (increase pixels) The third option allows you to switch on EXPAND, AUTOHIDE or add the

SHOW/HIDE buttons on the panel itself

You can also MOVE any panel by holding the SHIFT key down whilst dragging

the panel to its new location.

The BACKGROUND tab allows you to:

Change the Background COLOUR Choose SOLID COLOR SelectColour from palette

BACKGROUNDIMAGE allows you to use a stored graphic file for yourbackground


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You are able to display multiple windows on the desktop at any one time. These

windows can be moved & resized as needed. At the top of each window is atitlebar & maximise, minimise & close buttons.

You can change the size & position of any window on the screen; this will allowyou to see more than one application at any one time. You may be reading aweb page & typing notes into a word processor. To move a window, simply dragthe TITLEBARto its new location.

To resize the window, drag one of the borders to expand or shrink the windowon that side. The change two sides at the same time drag the corner. TheRESIZE pointer appears when your mouse is in the correct position to begin a

drag.

To maximise a window quickly, double-click the TITLEBAR.

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Workspaces enable you to manage which windows are on the screen, they arealmost virtual screens which you can switch between. Each workspace willcontain the same panels & menus but will run different applications & open

different windows.

By default, there are two workspaces available which you can switch between,

To do this you use the WORKSPACE SWITCHERapplet which is located on thebottom-right of the panel.

The two workspaces are represented as a two rectangles; you simply click onone to change workspace. To change the default of how many workspaces are

available:

RIGHT click on any one of the workspace rectanglesSelect PREFERENCES from the fly out menu key in number of

rows/columns required


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The file manager facility of Ubuntu is known as Nautilus & provides easy accessto your applications, folders & files. To access the Nautilus file manager, you

simply click on the PLACES menu which is located on the top panel of thedesktop. The places menu contains:

Home Folder Computer Desktop CD/DVD Creator Bookmarks Network

The last three items on the places menu carry out actions rather than openlocations, they are:

Connect to Server Search Recent DocumentsThe Nautilus file manager provides a quick & easy way to manage your files &

applications. You can use it to:

Create Folders/Document Launch Applications Display Files/Folders Customise File/Folder Appearance Search & Manage Files Open Specific Locations Write Data to CD/DVD Install/Remove Fonts

The file manager enables you to organise your files into folders. Folders canalso contain sub-folders, using these effectively will ensure that you can findfiles quickly & easily when you need them. Nautilus also manages the desktopwhich is always positioned behind all the other visible items on the screen.

Every user will have a HOME folder; this contains all the users files. TheDESKTOP is another folder which will contain icons allowing quick access to the

users home folder, trash & also removable media such as CDs &/or USBflashdrives. To open a new Nautilus window:

Double-left click an icon, such as HOME or DESKTOP or

Select an item from the PLACES menu

Remember that many things are files, such as word processed documents,

photos, movies, music files etc.

There maybe times when you are working that you will have many windows

open at any one time & this can make it difficult to return to your desktopquickly. To get back to the desktop quickly, press: CTRL+ALT+D orclick on the SHOW DESKTOP BUTTON which is located at the farleft of the bottom panel.


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LLooccaattiioonn BBaarrThe Location Bar displays a location field, button bar or search facility. The

default display is the BUTTON BAR which shows a row of buttons thatrepresent your current locations hierarchy. You can use these buttons to movequickly between folders.

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Although the button bar is the default, you can switch to a text location bar byclicking the toggle button from the button bar.

The text location bar displays the current location as a text path e.g./home/user/Documents. To move to a new location:

Key in the new path Press ENTER

Location Bar

ToolBar

PlacesSide Pane

System Places

Bookmarks

Read onl folder with emblem


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The Nautilus file manager contains a search facility. To access this:

Click the SEARCH button on the toolbarOR

Press CTRL+F

Key in the text you wish to search for Press ENTER(The results of thesearch will be displayed.)

If the search does not find the desired file then you can narrow it down by using

the FILE TYPE &LOCATION buttons.

AAddddiinnggNNootteessYou can add Notes to your files / folders in two ways, either by using theNautilus SIDEPANE or by using the PROPERTIES window.

Side PaneOpen the FILE / FOLDERyou wish to add the note toSelect NOTES from the drop down list in the side pane

Key in the NOTES in the side pane (A note EMBLEM willbe displayed on the file)

To DELETE a note Delete the text from the Notes pane

Properties WindowRight-click the FILE / FOLDERyou wish to add the note toSelect PROPERTIES from the fly-out menu & choose the NOTES tabKey in the Notes text Click CLOSE


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When you insert a removable media device, such as a CD or Memory Stick &icon representing this device will be displayed on the Desktop.

To DISPLAY the contents Double click the icon

To EJECT the device Right-click on icon choose UNMOUNT VOLUME

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By default your files & folders are displayed as icons, you can also add emblems

to files & folders. For example, you can use an emblem to mark a document as

important or urgent, there are many such emblems available. To add anemblem:

Right click the FILE / FOLDERyou wish to add the emblemSelect PROPERTIES from the fly-out menu

Select the EMBLEMS tab & choose from the displayed list


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Permissions can be assigned to any file / folder; they determine what types ofaccess other users are allowed. For example, you can ensure that a user is only

able to read your file & not edit or delete it. Every file is owned / created by auser & that user is associated with a group that they belong to. You can setpermissions for three user categories:

Owner This is the user that created the fileGroup A group of users to which the owner belongs

Others All others not already included

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Different permissions can be set for each of the three categories:

None No access Read Only File can be accessed for reading but no changes can bemade Read & Write - Files can be modified and / or deleted & changes can be

saved

Execute - Executable files can be run as a programRight-click the FILE Choose PROPERTIES Select options as required


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Changing permissions to a folder is the same process as changing file

permissions; the options are:

None No access List Files User can view the folder items is not allowed access to them Access Files All folder items with allowable permissions can be

accessed & changed.

Create / Delete Files User can create new files & delete the filescontained in the folder.

Right-click the FOLDER Choose PROPERTIES Select options as

required

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An application is a computer programme that will allow youto perform a task such as, create a text document or view

images etc. You simply choose the appropriate applicationto carry out a particular task. To access an application,open the applications menu & choose from the sub menus:

Some of the applications provided by default with Ubuntu, Gnome are:

Calculator Games Sound & Video

Screenshot Internet Tools System ToolsText Editor Office


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As well as the default applications provided you can add more at any time. Todo this:

Choose ADD or REMOVE from the APPLICATIONS Menu Bar

To refine your search criteria for a particular application, choose from theCATEGORI ES located on the left-side of the window. For example, if you arelooking for an image editor which would allow you to edit photographs etc, then

choose GRAPHI CS from the category list. The right-hand side of the screen willnow only display graphic applications & you can scroll through the list until youfind the most suitable. Once you have selected the application by clicking thecheckbox (a tick will appear) then:

Click APPLY CHANGES button you will be asked to confirm thechanges - Click APPPLY

Enter your PASSWORD click OK &CLOSE

The newly installed application is now displayed on the APPLICATIONS menu


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Tomboy is a note taking applet which you can add to your panel for easy access.To add Tomboy to a Panel:

Right-click on the Panel Choose ADD TO PANELSelect TOMBOYNOTES Click ADD - An icon now appears on the panel

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Click the TOMBOY icon displayed on the panelSelect CREATENEWNOTE from the menu

The NEW NOTE window will be displayed with a title of New Note & its

number. This first line is the default title & can be changed to a moreappropriate document title.

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Click the TOMBOY icon displayed on the panelSelect SEARCH ALL NOTES from the Menu (will display in date

modification order)


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Tomboy provides a search facility for you to find specific notes quickly by simplyentering in text into the field.

Select SEARCHALLNOTES from the TOMBOY menuEnter in search text

The search RESULTS will be displayed on the right-hand side of thewindow. Double-click the required note to open it.

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All available options for text formatting can be found on the TEXT menu withinan open notes document. However, there are some shortcut keys availablewhich are often quicker than using a menu. They are:

Key Action Key Action

CTRL+Z Undo CTRL+B Bold

SHIFT+CTRL+Z Redo CTRL+I Italic

CTRL+H Highlight CTRL+S Strikeout

Font Size There are four options Small, Normal, Large & Huge. These can

only be changed from the Text menu.

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The link option will allow you to create a link to a NEW note from the CURRENTone. To do this:

Highlight a piece of relevant text (this text will become the title of thenew linked note)

Select the LINK button (A new note will be created)


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Tomboy also carries out automatic linking if you key in the name of anothernote in your current note. A link is displayed as blue text & when clicked will

open the linked notes document.

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FSpot is a photo management tool which allows you to import, organise &

enhance your photographs. To access FSpot:

Select APPLICATIONS / GRAPHICS / FSPOT from the Menu

If you have never used FSpot before then no photos will be displayed in thewindow, however if you have launched the application previously, then you will

see all photos contained in the FSpot database.

Toolbar

Timeline

Tags

Photodetails


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You can import photos from your computer hard drive or from a removabledevice, such as a camera or memory stick. When FSpot imports the photos it

will always make a copy of them. If you do not want this to happen thenUNCHECKthe COPY option on the I MPORTDI ALOG window. You can also dothis by holding down the SHI FT key when dragging photos to FSpot. To import:

Select FILE / IMPORT from the FSpot menuSelect the IMPORTSOURCE from the top-right of the window

UNCHECK the COPY option if you want to MOVE rather than copy

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Tags can be used to help you organise your photos, they are simply labels that

are displayed as a named icon. FSpot provides you with some default tags, forexample, people, places etc. But you can create your own tags to make it easierto locate files later. To create a tag:

Select TAGS / CREATENEWTAG from the menuIf you have a photo selected then this will be used as the tag ICONKey in the TAG NAME

There are many ways to tag photos, you can:

Right-click on the photo Choose ATTACHTAG select from listDrag & drop the photos to a TAG

Drag & drop the tag to the PHOTO


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Once your photos have been tagged it becomes easy to display specific taggedphotos. You simply select from theTAGS PANE which is displayed on the left-

hand side of the FSpot window. If no tags are selected FSpot will display yourentire photo collection.

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You can use the FSpot main window to browse through your collection which isdisplayed by default in date order from oldest to newest. This order can be

reversed using the VIEW menu options.

Selected tag

Slider


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The slider tool on the lower right of the window allows you to alter the number

of photos on view at any one time.

Timeline This is the band that is displayed at the top of the display pane &

enables you to move from month to month. Clicking on a month bar willimmediately move you to the first photo of the chosen month.

Slideshow & Fullscreen Both of these views utilise the entire screen to

display your photos.

Click the FULLSCREEN icon from the toolbar

ORPress the shortcut key F11

The selected photo will now be displayed using the full screen. Use the mouse

SCROLL button to ZOOM in or out.

To exit fullscreen mode Press the ESC key

OR

Click the SLIDESHOW icon from the toolbarOR

Press the shortcut key F5

Both of these views provide an on-screen toolbar which offers additional options

when using the views, for example changing slide transition, rotation etc.

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To edit a photo:Double-click the photo OR Select EDITIMAGE icon from the toolbar

Cropping Using the CROP tool allows you to remove specific parts of an

image. You do this by selecting the parts of the photo that you wish to keep.

Use the mouse to draw a rectangle shape around the part of the photo

you wish to keep.


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Click the CROP tool you will now see only the area you selected

Your original photo will be retained in FSpot to view the original:

Click the drop-down list which is located at the bottom-left of the windowChoose ORIGINAL from the list

Red Eye To remove redeye from a photo:

Use the mouse to select the area of the photo which needs adjusting

Crop Tool


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Click the REDEYE tool which is located at the bottom-left of the screen

(The Redeye will now be removed)

Sepia / Black & White To convert colour photos to sepia or black & white:

Click the appropriate icon from the toolbar

Redeye Tool

Blk & White Se ia


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Key Action

ALT+F1 Opens the Applications menu

PRINTSCRREN Takes a screenshot of entire Desktop

ALT+PRINTSCREEN Takes a screenshot of active Window

CTRL+ALT+ARROW KEYS Switches Workspace to arrow direction

CTRL+ALT+D Minimise all windows

ALT+TAB Switch between Windows

CTRL+ALT-TAB Switch between Panels & Desktop